ISS America, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of automotive engine components, will invest $3 million in the Columbus, Ohio, region to expand its existing Bellefontaine facility. The expansion will increase the company’s workforce from six to 26 over the next three years.

“Although ISS America is relatively new to the Columbus Region, we have found the strategic location and proximity to automotive customers ideal for growth,” said Ted Takebayashi, vice president, ISS America, Inc. “We look forward to continuing to capitalize on those strengths with this expansion.”

Stemming from Japanese parent company IINO, ISS America is headquartered in California and produces items including knock pins, dowel pins and joint pipes for automobile engines and transmissions. Opening its Logan County facility in 2010, ISS America serves as a tier one supplier for Honda, manufacturing spark plug cylinders. The 20 committed jobs, which will more than quadruple the company’s existing Columbus Region workforce, will consist of production staff, Columbus 2020 said.

“ISS America has been a welcome addition to Logan County, and we are excited to assist as they grow their operations with this significant capital investment and the commitment of 20 new jobs,” said Paul Benedetti, president and CEO, Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce.

As an incentive, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority awarded ISS America a tax abatement of approximately $34,600 or 35 percent, six-year, tax abatement.

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority also awarded a 40 percent tax abatement to another firm, NEX Transport, which will assist that company in its relocation to a facility in Logan County’s Zane Township, where it will create 45 jobs.